The quality of our domestic water supply is fast becoming a contentious issue, especially as people are becoming more informed and health conscious. Many rainwater tank owners believe, because their drinking water is free of chlorine and is collected straight from their roof, that they are drinking clean, healthy water. Unfortunately, this is not generally the case.
Gastric upsets, diarrhoea and many infectious intestinal diseases, such as Giardia Lamblia, can result from drinking tank water. These potential problems can be caused by bacteria from bird droppings, rotten vegetation, dead insects and small animals as well as the fall-out from pesticides, herbicides, and exhaust emissions, which get washed into the tank with each shower of rain.
If the tank, tank strainer, roof and gutters are kept clean, there will rarely be a problem. Health authorities suggest most tanks need to be cleaned every two years to ensure a healthy water supply.
